Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government took office in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso, and ushered in a period of ethnic and political unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003, but the calm is tenuous and refugees continue to present a humanitarian crisis. The Republic of Congo was once one of Africa's largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will need new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term.

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Transportation

AirportsWorld Ranking: 129

25 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

Total7Over 3,047 m22,438 to 3,047 m11,524 to 2,437 m4 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

Total181,524 to 2,437 m8914 to 1,523 m9Under 914 m1 (2012)

Pipelines

Gas 65 km; oil 273 km (2010)

RailwaysWorld Ranking: 94

Total886 kmNarrow gauge886 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

RoadwaysWorld Ranking: 117

Total17,289 kmPaved864 kmUnpaved16,425 km (2004)

WaterwaysWorld Ranking: 62

1,120 km (commercially navigable on Congo and Oubanqui rivers above Brazzaville; there are many ferries across the river to Kinshasa; the Congo south of Brazzaville-Kinshasa to the coast is not navigable because of rapids, thereby necessitating a rail connection to Pointe Noire; other rivers are used for local traffic only) (2011)